St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-07
ENGINEERS AND FIREMEN.
The Two Great BrOiherhoOds.
Which Never Have Strikes.
New York Sun

New York Sun.
Arbitration, conciliatory measures and
a wholesome appreciation of the rights Of
capital and corporations, but at the same
time manly estimate of all empoyes. !,
Grand Chief Engineer Peter NJ. Arthur said
short time ago, will settle any grievances
the engineers and firemen might have. and
upon that tack we propose to proceed
AL present there are about 80, 900 en-
gineerS employed OH all the railroads
OF the country. and about that num-
Der OF hrehen. They run over the
13S, 900 miles of railroads in the country.
The share capital of the railroads il
"a, 600. 600, 600, the earnings are $500. 0OO.-
600 annually, and the amount of interest
paid each year OH the capital stock of the
companies is in the neighborhood of $780,
OO0,O QUO. Between 21.000 and 90. 900 OF the
engineers are members of the Brotherhood
and nearly that number of firelnen are
members of the Firemens Brotherhood
There are now 359 subdivisions or assem-
blies of the engineers and $40 subdivisions
of the iremen. and they are increasing at
the rate of two a month. The grand
officers of the engineers are: Peter NJ.
Arthur, grand chief engineer; T. S. In
graham. first grand engineer. and II. c.
Hays, FIRST grand assistant engineer. F. =.
JdlSOut, VI ItITt 11duJe, Is grand master
OF the Firemen's Brotherhood
''Two-thirds of the and engineers fremen
belong to the brotherhoods said well-in-
formed engineer. who at one time was mas
ter of firemens division, land at the rate
we are increasing it will be but year or
two when we will have about all we care
TO have i'll the brotherhoods The strictest
discipline is maintained in both orders.
Last month there were four eXpulsions from
engineers divisions and seventeen suspen-
slons. They were for intoXicaton. falling
to pay just debts, destroying company;s
property, being drunk on duty. non-nav-
ment OF dues and for unbecoming conducto
What do we consider unbecoming conducto
We'll, falling to provide decently for
ones family, neglect of an engineer
or fireman to send his children
to school, and all unmanly actions of that
SORT member once expelled must show
a sincere change in his character and mode
of life before he can be reinstated and
even then he would have to undergo long
probation. AS among applicants to Join
the Masons or Odd Fellows, many are black
balled. An engineer is not eligible to mem
bership unless ne is white, 81 years old, and
has run an engine one year. Then he must
be proposed by three members of the broth
erhood, recommended by three, and an in
vestigation committee of three sits in iudg-
ment on him. Even if their report is
favorable, a very small number of black
balls-less than half a dozen-will keep
him out"
In speaking of the status Of the engineers
and hremen it was stated that they are Just
as much separated as the engineers are
from the Knights of Labor Of course. the
tiremen are always benefited by any im-
in fba H.
MANY tiremen become engineers" the en-
gineer continued. I'm fact, nine out or
ten OF the Brotherhood of Engineers were
firemen. The engineers are like seniof
members OF firm of merchants There
has never been an instance where the engl-
neerS have been in trouble that the fremen
have taken their places. | sincerely be-
lleve that the conservative course of Grand
Chief Arthur and the officers of the Grand
division will for many years preclude
general strike. People have mistaken no.
lions about this matter. One division of
engineers does not take up anothers trouble.
One division might strike and they would be
assisted by money and encouragement if
their cause was right. but a general strike
could not be precipitated upon the coun-
try"
Mention was made of the fact that the
New York Central and the West Shore,
running parallel with each other and con-
trolled by one corporation, and that the
Lake Shore and the Nickel Plate and other
big Western roads were practically under
the same management, and the engineer
was asked how it would be if there was a
strike on one division and peace maintained
on the other. He replied: The warning
engineers would have to fight out their
battle. All the other engineers would give
them all the assistance in the way Of money
that they could, but even the engineers on
the parallel branch of the road, if all agree
ments had been lived up TO with them,
would not strike If their brethren on the
warning parallel struck and were beaten
they would get their wages from the united
divisions for six months and longer if the
grand division so decided"